Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The NCCA is now doing that as part of its review. I expect to receive recommendations on that issue. The important thing, however, is that we will see an uptake at leaving certificate level from the junior certificate. At junior certificate level, approximately 90% of students, if not more, when one subtracts the external students, take science for the junior certificate examination. However, the numbers taking physics and chemistry drops to approximately 14% at leaving certificate level. The hands-on approach to junior cycle science and the investment in laboratories are certainly working. There are significant link schemes between industry and schools with science teachers being invited to company laboratories to carry out in-service training during the summer.

See this speech in context